A Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than 10:49 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 29, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission, NASA's Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 25 (CRS-25), will deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.
Astronauts aboard the station will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture Cygnus and attach it to the Unity module's Earth-facing port. The spacecraft will remain docked until May 2027.
The cargo includes several experiments. Hardware will manufacture DNA-inspired particles in space to improve drug delivery for cancer and osteoarthritis treatment. Another study will predict whether a patient's cancer is likely to spread. Cygnus also carries human muscle cells and medications to test therapeutics for muscle loss tied to spaceflight and aging, plus a compact radiation sensor to improve crew safety on future missions.
This is Northrop Grumman's 25th spacecraft built to deliver supplies to the station under contract with NASA. Media accreditation is open for prelaunch and launch activities. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 12.